Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
ty? With you?”
“Yeah,” said Harry. “We’re supposed to bring guests, so I thought you
might like... I mean...” He was keen to make his intentions perfectly clear.
“I mean, just as friends, you know. But if you don’t want to...”
He was already half hoping that she didn’t want to.
“Oh, no, I’d love to go with you as friends!” said Luna, beaming as he
had never seen her beam before. “Nobody’s ever asked me to a party before,
as a friend! Is that why you dyed your eyebrow, for the party? Should I do
mine too?”
“No,” said Harry firmly, “that was a mistake. I’ll get Hermione to put it
right for me. So, I’ll meet you in the entrance hall at eight o’clock then.”
“AHA!” screamed a voice from overhead and both of them jumped;
unnoticed by either of them, they had just passed right underneath Peeves,
who was hanging upside down from a chandelier and grinning maliciously
at them.
“Potty asked Loony to go to the party! Potty lurves Loony! Potty luuuuurves
Looooooony!”
And he zoomed away, cackling and shrieking, “Potty loves Loony!”
“Nice to keep these things private,” said Harry. And sure enough, in no
time at all the whole school seemed to know that Harry Potter was taking
Luna Lovegood to Slughorn’s party.
“You could’ve taken anyone!” said Ron in disbelief over dinner. “Anyone!
And you chose Loony Lovegood?”
“Don’t call her that, Ron,” snapped Ginny, pausing behind Harry on her
way to join friends. “I’m really glad you’re taking her, Harry, she’s so excited.”
And she moved on down the table to sit with Dean. Harry tried to feel
pleased that Ginny was glad he was taking Luna to the party, but could not
quite manage it. A long way along the table, Hermione was sitting alone,
playing with her stew. Harry noticed Ron looking at her furtively.
“You could say sorry,” suggested Harry bluntly.
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